Exclusion, Various Laws and Firstfruits
Capital Punishment, War, Marriage Laws
and Cities of refuge are required and defined to provide a place for those to accidentally kill someone to hide. Given the size of the growing population of Israelites there are enough people that this is a real possibility. Even further as the population continues to grow. “Set aside for yourselves three cities in the …
Legal, Financial and Ritual Concerns
Worship and Tithes
and The One Place Of Worship “Destroy completely all the places on the high mountains, on the hills and under every spreading tree, where the nations you are dispossessing worship their gods.” Break free from their ways. Worship God alone. I read these words and think about all the pagan ways of old that I …
Fear, Love and Serve God
Covenant History
and Deuteronomy begins with a brief recap of major events including the delegation of responsibility to tribal leaders and the rebellion that happened after the 12 spied out the Promised Land. In spite of this, you did not trust in the Lord your God The Israelites fought and won many battles, physical struggles against those …
Boundaries — Physical and Legal
Cities of Refuge provide a holding place for those who accidentally kill someone awaiting trial. These were given to the Levites to manage. There are lots of rules that go along with using the haven, but the intent is to allow time to process the claim and protect the individual. Zelophehad’s Daughters get their inheritance, …
The Tribes Prepare to Settle Canaan
and Moses instructs the Israelites to fight the Midianites with 12,000 men, 1,000 from each tribe. They killed every man, the five kings of Midian are listed. Balaam is also killed in the battle. “Moses was angry with the officers of the army…have you allowed all the women to live?” he asked them. “They were the …
Offerings and Vows
and “On the Sabbath day, make an offering…” I found this interesting given the later interpretation of “work” on the Sabbath–surely preparing two lambs, grains, flour and olive oil would constitute “work” by definition. There are several places where the requirement to “do no work” or “do no regular work” is specified. Offering is not …